Task Force Desperate: American Praetorians, Book 1

Jeff Stone and his team of Praetorian Security contractors are marking time on counterpiracy duty aboard a freighter in the Gulf of Aden when the boredom ends abruptly. A major US base on the Horn of Africa is overrun in a well-coordinated terrorist attack, and those base personnel who survive are taken hostage. With the world economy tanked and most of the Western militaries dangerously thinned, the Praetorian operators find themselves to be the hostages' only hope of rescue.

Tough soldiers for a tough job nobody else will do

The original Praetorian Guard was a special force used to guard the tent or person of a general. This group is also a special force of seasoned soldie..Show More »rs, disillusioned by the politics and timidity of the American armed forces, now turned mercenary in order to keep fighting bad guys. They are hired to kill a top ISIS bad boy, and to rescue 200 hostages, mostly military. But there are only about 20 of this force, this is why it is a desperate mission.

We get to sneak, bribe and shoot our way around a couple north African countries, trying to decide whom to trust and whom to blow up. It does get just a tad tedious in the middle, but the action is all good, the characters are relatable, there is intrigue and deceit, there are teary deaths, and real men. I like that it is realistic, not everyone gets out with his hair unruffled; there are real losses. If you like soldier stories, this looks to be a good series.

I would not say that Wyntner Woody is a great narrator. He doesn't differentiate characters much, and doesn't do accents. But his deep, rough, tough voice works well with the task at hand. I noticed these failings, but didn't care since the story was good enough. I will be listening to the next one!